U.S. patent number 6,724,873 [Application Number 09/845,670] was granted by the patent office on 2004-04-20 for automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of an immersion bath.
This patent grant is currently assigned to I House Incorporadora Ltda.. Invention is credited to Leonardo Senna Da Silva.
United States Patent |
6,724,873 |
Senna Da Silva |
April 20, 2004 |
Automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the
preparation of an immersion bath
Abstract
It comprises a central processing unit (CPU), to which a control
panel (PC) is attached, said central processing unit (CPU) being
connected to the input of a power control circuit (CCP) that
selectively controls the opening and closing of a set of valves of
hydraulic systems for the passage of hot water (Q), cold water (F),
sinking and draining (Ed) and of odoriferous essence (E); said
central processing unit (CPU), besides being controlled by the
control panel (PC), allows the remote control by means of data
receiving and transmitting interfaces (IT, IRF, IES) which are
directly and individually connected to the relevant central
processing unit (CPU); a voice synthesizing circuit (CSV) that
interconnects the central processing unit (CPU) with the data
receiving and transmitting interfaces (IT) being provided; the
central processing unit (CPU) being connected to an
analog-to-digital converting circuit (CCAD), which in turn receives
the signals from the sensors (S) physically disposed in strategic
places on the immersion bathtub (B); the whole set being connected
to a power source (FA).
Inventors: |
Senna Da Silva; Leonardo (Sao
Paulo, BR) |
Assignee: |
I House Incorporadora Ltda.
(Sao Paulo, BR)
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Family
ID: |
3946106 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/845,670 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2001 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 14, 2000 [BR] |
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0006494 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/102.01;
340/6.11; 700/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C
1/055 (20130101); H04L 12/2803 (20130101); H04L
12/2827 (20130101); H04M 11/007 (20130101); H04L
12/2818 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
12/28 (20060101); H04M 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/102.01,102.02,102.04,102.05
;340/825.24,825.25,825.29,825.37,825.69,825.72 ;210/86-87
;236/12.11-12.12,12.15 ;307/11 ;704/275 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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04356654 |
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Dec 1992 |
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JP |
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10225390 |
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Aug 1998 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Eng; George
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE PARAMETERS INVOLVED IN
THE PREPARATION AND USE OF AN IMMERSION BATH comprising: an
immersion bath provided with a plurality of sensors that sense
temperature, water volume and odoriferous essence; a central
processing unit connected to an analog-to-digital converting
circuit that receives signals from the plurality of sensors and to
which a control panel is peripherally connected, said central
processing unit being connected to an input of a power control
circuit that selectively controls the opening and closing of a set
of valves of hydraulic systems for the passage of hot water, cold
water, sinking and draining and of odoriferous essence into and out
of said immersion bath until a predetermined set of temperature,
water volume and odoriferous essence parameters is achieved; data
receiving and transmitting means consisting of one of a telephone
interface, serial electric interface and radio frequency interface
and connected to said central processing unit for remote control of
said central processing unit and for remote notification of the
achievement of said predetermined set of parameters to a user in a
remote location in preparation of use of said immersion bath; and a
voice synthesizing circuit that interconnects the central
processing unit with the data receiving and transmitting means for
voice-based remote notification of the achievement of said
predetermined set of parameters to a user in a remote location;
said central processing unit further provided with a plurality of
memories for storing and recalling said predetermined set of
parameters between uses of said immersion bath and for
automatically maintaining and regulating said predetermined set of
parameters during use of said immersion bath.
2. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the control
panel is provided with a display, an alphanumeric keyboard, a power
button, at least two memory buttons associated with said plurality
of memories and a loud speaker.
3. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the power
control circuit is electrically connected to valves that
selectively control the opening and closing of hydraulic
systems.
4. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the data
receiving and transmitting means is a telephone interface for one
of pulse lines and tone lines.
5. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the data
receiving and transmitting means is a serial electric interface
coupled to an automation exchange.
6. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the data
receiving and transmitting means is a radio frequency interface for
receiving data remotely through radio frequency signaling.
7. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the data
receiving and transmitting means requires an identification and
access password for remote accessing of the central processing unit
for preparing the immersion bath.
8. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the data
receiving and transmitting means is a telephone interface through
the a residence telephone system.
9. The automated system according to claim 1, further comprising
means for controlling said central processing unit through one of
the Internet and Intranet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present specification is related to an automated system for
controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of an
immersion bath such as, swimming pools, bathtubs and the like and,
more specifically, to an intelligent preprogrammed and selective
control system for actuating all the mechanisms involved in the
preparation of an immersion bath, such as water level, temperature,
addition of odoriferous essences and/or bath salts and the time the
mass of the contained water is maintained, temperature, as well as
the lighting thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is thoroughly known, presently the water mass and the
temperature of the latter in immersion type bathtubs, jacuzzi
whirlpools, SPA type bathtubs, Japanese whirlpools, among others,
are manually controlled by turning handles that actuate check
valves that allow for the opening and/or closing of the public
water flow towards the bathtub, the operation of the water
recirculating pump in jacuzzi whirlpool being actuated by a on-off
button disposed in an easy-to-access place inside the area of the
bathtub box; further, in the case of swimming pools, feeding and
water recirculating pumps are provided for cleaning and filtering
the mass of water retained in the swimming pool, said pumps being
actuated by on-off buttons disposed in an easy-to-access place out
of the swimming pool deck area.
Both in immersion bathtubs and jacuzzi whirlpools, the hot and cold
water flows that get into the bathtub are actuated by the relevant
handles that allow the selective and metered passage of the amount
of cold and hot water necessary to dose, according to the user's
will, the mass of water inside the bathtub. The hot water is
previously heated by electric, solar and/or gas heaters, among
others, where the heating power is directly related with the water
outflow therethrough.
In spite of being widely used, both immersion bathtubs and jacuzzi
whirlpools suffer drawbacks among which we can mention: the
non-memorization of the selective graduation of the temperature of
the water to be used in the bath; the non-maintenance of the mass
of water contained in the bathtub, in accordance with the physical
size, evaporation and/or number of people and the taste of a
certain user, among others.
Specifically, in the case of jacuzzi whirlpools, one of the
drawbacks is the fact that it is operated only when the user is in
the bathroom, thus needing to wait before it is full of water or
getting into same before it is filled up with water.
Another drawback of these jacuzzi whirlpools conventionally known
is the fact that the filling level of the bathtub is manually
controlled by the user himself/herself, who must get into the
bathtub in advance so that his/her own body mass is compounded with
the mass of water poured into the bathtub, thus defining the water
level of the occupied bathtub. This prevents the bathtub to be used
by more than one person at the same time.
Another drawback of these jacuzzi whirlpools conventionally known
is the fact of that the bath temperature is generally determined by
the mixture of hot and cold water flows that are poured into the
bathtub, said mixing being manually carried when the user turns
mixing handles, the temperature gradient being defined by the touch
sensitivity of the user who must touch the bath water to determine
the desired temperature every time he/she wishes to have a bath.
This can bring about burnings.
Another drawback of these jacuzzi whirlpools conventionally known
is the fact that the mixing of the odoriferous essence and bath
salts that compose the immersion solution must also be manually
added randomly doses by the user himself/herself, thus compelling
him/her to define or identify an ideal amount of odoriferous
essence and/or bath salt that satisfies its pleasure or
preference.
Another drawback of these jacuzzi whirlpools conventionally known
is the fact that all the procedures for regulating the temperature
and the water level and adding odoriferous essences and/or bath
salts should be carried out manually and empirically for each bath
and each bathtub user, that is, for each user the regulation is
personal and cannot measured in advance, thus compelling each user
to regulate in some way the parameters of his/her bath, even if the
latter had already been initially prepared by his/her home servant
or housekeeper.
Another drawback of these jacuzzi whirlpools conventionally known
is the fact that as the bath goes on and the immersion water gets
cooler, if the user wants to remain immersed, he/she needs to add
hot water and release an equivalent amount of mixed water in such a
way that the bath water level does not exceed the value initially
defined. This task happens to be fully manual, thus making it
difficult to maintain the temperature and saturation level of the
water/essence/salts mixture at the value initially defined.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to
provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved
in the preparation of an immersion bath that allows the
memorization of the selective graduation of the temperature of the
water to be used in the bath; as well as the memorization of the
water mass level to be kept inside the bathtub in accordance with
the physical size and taste of a certain user, among others.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated
system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation
of an immersion bath, more specifically in jacuzzi whirlpools and
bathtubs in general, that can be remotely actuated, the user not
needing to be present in the bathroom, thus assuring that the user
will only get into the bathtub when the bath is effectively
ready.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated
system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation
of an immersion bath that allows for the previous definition of the
bathtub filling level according to the user, the latter not needing
to get into the bathtub before it is filled up.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated
system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation
of an immersion bath that allows for the memorization and
repetition of a bath temperature value for each user, said mixing
being automatically carried out after the user preselects said
temperature.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated
system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation
of an immersion bath that allows for the controlled accurate and
predefined mixture of odoriferous essences and/or bath salts that
compose the immersion solution.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated
system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation
of an immersion bath that regulates automatically and permanently
the temperature of the water as the bath goes on, thus keeping same
constant while the user is immersed, without the need to change the
mixture of the immersion water. Thus, water and odoriferous essence
can be saved.
At last, the object of the present invention is to provide an
automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the
preparation of an immersion bath where all the procedures for
regulating the temperature regulation and water level and adding
the odoriferous essences and/or bath salts are carried out
automatically and customized, that is, each user is provided with a
regulation previously defined that is started whenever
requested.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are
attained with an automated system for controlling the parameters
involved in the preparation of an immersion bath that comprises a
central processing unit, to which a control panel provided with
display and alphanumeric keyboard is peripherically connected; said
central processing unit being connected to the input of a power
control circuit that selectively actuates the opening and closing
of a set of valves of hydraulic systems for the passage of hot
water, cold water and odoriferous essence; sinker valve and product
valve for the bathtub to be self-cleaned, said central processing
unit, besides being actuated by the control panel, being remotely
controllable by data receiving and transmitting interfaces (pulse
and/or tone telephone signal, and/or electric signal, radio
frequency signal, and/or others) by being directly and individually
connected to said central processing unit; a voice synthesizing
circuit being provided that interconnects the central processing
unit with the data receiving and transmitting interfaces through
pulse and/or tone telephone signal, said central processing unit
being connected to an analog-to-digital converting circuit, which
in turn receives the signals from (level, temperature, and others)
sensors physically disposed in strategic places on the immersion
bathtub; the whole set being connected to a power source.
This automated system for controlling the parameters involved in
the preparation of an immersion bath also makes return calls to the
telephone assigned by the user informing through the voice when the
bath is ready.
Said system provides, by programming in the CPU, a maximum time for
the bath, and after this time has elapsed the water of the bathtub
will get through the sinker and the bathtub is switched off until a
new command is set. This time counter is reset every time the user
depresses any command on the control panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the
attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a bathroom
provided with a jacuzzi whirlpool provided with the automated
system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation
of an immersion bath; and
FIG. 2 represents a block diagram of the automated system for
controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of an
immersion bath.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with these illustrations, the automated system for
controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of an
immersion bath object of the present invention is comprised of a
central processing unit CPU, to which a control panel PC provided
with a display D, an alphanumeric keyboard Te, and a loud speaker,
is peripherically connected, see FIG. 1. This central processing
unit CPU, is connected to the input of a power control circuit CCP,
which is electrically connected to the solenoid valves that
selectively actuate the opening and closing of hydraulic systems
for passing hot water Q, cold water F, odoriferous essence A and
the draining sinker Ed.
The central processing unit CPU, besides being actuated by the
control panel PC, allows for the remote control of the system,
through data receiving and transmitting interfaces of the telephone
interface type IT, for pulse and/or tone lines; of the serial
electric interface type IES to be coupled to an automation
exchange; or of the radio frequency interface type IRF to
communicate with the remote control.
The IRF serves only for the short distance remote control (inside
the house), this remote control being a two-way control, and thus
the bathtub, once actuated by the RF remote control, will inform
the remote control when the bath is ready.
A voice synthesizing circuit CSV is provided that interconnects the
central processing unit CPU with the control panel PC and with the
data receiving and transmitting interfaces through pulse and/or
tone telephone signal IT; further being able to be actuated by the
residential automation system via Internet, via the serial
interface RS 232-C, or Intranet.
The central processing unit CPU is connected to a circuit for
converting analog signals into CCAD digital signals, which in turn
receives the signals from the (level, temperature, and others)
sensors S physically disposed in strategic places on the immersion
bathtub B.
A power source FA connected to the central processing unit CPU
feeds all the relevant circuits in the system.
Thus, the automated system allows, besides the control panel PC,
the control of the parameters for preparing a bath to be carried
out through IT, IRF and IES interfaces which are selectively
actuated and remotely controlled, thus determining all the
pertinent functions for preparing a bath.
Both the remote control and the `in situ` control of the system
allow a corresponding user to activate the commands for preparing
the bath. The system is provided with a set of memories M1, M2 . .
. , Mn that allow for the previous storage of data and parameters
to be used in the preparation of the bath. When the user calls said
memory M1, M2 . . . Mn, after having entered his/her access
password, if the access was made remotely via telephone, or, if the
access was made `in situ`, the user can control the preparation of
his/her bath within the temperature, mixture concentration and
water level and lighting parameters preset by the user
himself/herself.
In the event a memory password is not entered, the system is
activated, thus preparing a new bath, with the parameters (water
temperature, level of water contained in the bathtub, concentration
of the odoriferous essence and/or bath salts poured into the bath)
used for the preparation of the latest bath.
Thus, the user can actuate the system from anywhere, by means of
fixed and/or mobile telephone line, by means of electric automation
exchange or through the control panel of the bathtub itself, or
through remote control via radio frequency signaling, such
actuation being interpreted by each one of the respective
interfaces IT, IES, IRF.
An operational description of how to activate the automated system
for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of an
immersion bath will be presented below.
The lighting power required for lighting the bathtub also can be
memorized in memories M1, M2 . . . , Mn.
To start the operation, when the system is actuated it initially
identifies the actuation source, which can be the keyboard of the
control panel PC itself; or a remote control IES or RF, or a
telephone call IT.
In the event the actuation source is the control panel PC, through
the keyboard Te, the system checks whether the power button F was
depressed or one of the memory buttons M1, M2 . . . , Mn provided
in panel PC was depressed.
In the event the power button F is depressed, the system starts
operating.
In the event one of the memory buttons M1, M2 . . . Mn is
depressed, the later provides the temperature, the mass of water,
the odoriferous essence, and the lighting power of the bathtub
which were stored previously, and the system starts operating.
In the event the control source is a remote control, for example,
of an automation exchange IES, the system starts operating.
In the event the control source is a telephone call IT, the system
requests a password number. If the password is not valid, the
connection is disabled and the system turns back to its waiting
mode. In the event the password is valid, a temperature value is
requested, and the system is able to correct same if it is not
valid, thus turning back to its waiting mode. In the event the
temperature is valid, the user is asked if he/she wants a telephone
call confirmation return, and the system starts operating if it is
not valid. In the event the confirmation return is requested, a
telephone for the return call is requested, and then the system
starts operating.
With the system operating, the system initially detects the
presence of water in the bathtub, and, if there is any water in the
bathtub for some reason, the water draining valve is opened, which
valve is kept open until the water contained in the bathtub is
drained out, and then this draining valve is closed again and the
cold and hot water supply valves are opened.
In the event there is no water in the bathtub, the system checks
whether the bathtub draining valve is closed and opens the cold and
hot water valves.
Water level and temperature sensors are provided in the bathtub B
to allow for the detention of the bath water level and temperature.
The system detects the level and temperature of the water contained
in bathtub B and compares same with the level and temperature
values previously established, balancing the outflows of cold water
and hot water until the desired values of the water level and
temperature are reached.
When the bath water is balanced with respect to the level and
temperature, the system starts dispensing the odoriferous essence
through a command, thus prompting the bath solution for use.
The same temperature sensors monitor continuously the bath water
temperature, and inform a device about the fall of temperature of
the water plus odoriferous essence contained in the bathtub, thus
activating an intermediate heater that promotes the recirculation
of the water until the temperature of said water gets back to the
values preset, when the intermediate heater is switched off.
Other functions can be directly controlled in the control panel PC
and/or remotely and timely controlled when the user is inside
bathtub B. One of such functions is the actuation of the jets of
the jacuzzi whirlpool; another function that can be automatically
actuated consists of the turning on the lights of bathtub B itself.
Thus, it is possible to also control the time that bathtub B will
remain activated.
The control panel PC is provided with a digital display D, colored
and provided with light, to indicate the temperature, and the loud
speaker informs the user when the temperature inside bathtub B has
reached the desired value, which is set by the user, through voice
synthesizer CSV.
The system defined above allows the users to also control the time
the pumps, filters and heat exchangers will remain activated.
Although a preferred constructive concept has been described and
illustrated, it should be understood that design changes are
possible and attainable without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *